Vodafone Qatar is inviting all parents to join its first AmanTECH Twitter Chat on Tuesday May 20th, from 7.00 – 8.00 pm, Doha-Qatar time. Accessed through individual Twitter handles and the Vodafone Qatar Twitter account (@VodafoneQatar) with hashtag #AskAmanTECH, parents and other interested stakeholders can take part of the dialogue which will be led by Frederick Lane and Vodafone Qatar in both English and Arabic.

Vodafone Qatar will also be running a draw for everyone participating and asking questions related to digital parenting for the chance for one person to win a Samsung S5.

Frederick Lane is an international author, attorney, educational consultant, expert witness and lecturer who appeared on ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’ and a variety of global broadcast networks such as CNN, BBC, CBS and others, owing to his wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of digital safety. Lane has seven books to his name including the most recently published ‘Cybertraps for the Young’. Parents will have the opportunity to ask this privacy expert any questions they have regarding maintaining their children’s safety and privacy in today’s ever-expanding digital world in addition to any other question they have about digital parenting in general.

Dana Haidan, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at Vodafone Qatar, said, “We’re very happy to launch the AmanTECH Twitter Chat and this edition is the first in a series of similar online conversations falling under the bigger programme, AmanTECH. In a digital world that is growing at unprecedented rates, it is essential for parents and related stakeholders to gain access to tools and platforms that help provide them with the necessary technical knowledge and information to navigate this world with their children and youth safely and making the best out of its ample opportunities. Fred Lane will be supporting the Vodafone Qatar AmanTECH team to impart of his experience in this area and engage parents in a dialogue that is central to the understanding of technology and its safe use.”

In its first year, AmanTECH will reach out to 50,000 students aged between 5 to 17; 15,000 teachers; and 25,000 parents. The programme will adopt a three-pronged approach with a focus on awareness, education and technical support. This entails a number of awareness campaigns during 2014, an online source for information and tips for parents and teachers, magazines and newsletters, ongoing education and discussion groups for parents, teachers and mothers, and dedicated Vodafone Tech Experts to impart valuable knowledge and advice for digital parenting, in addition to how-to guides and children’s educational games.

Fred Lane will be contributing with monthly digital parenting columns addressing a number of topics which will be accessible via www.vodafone.qa/AmanTECH.